Bowling alley scoreboard



.'Aprl 1, 1941. N. J. ABATE BOWLING ALLEY SCOREBOARD 'Filed Nov. 24, l1959 APY l, 19,41 N. J. ABATE 2.237.208 y BOWLING ALLEY* SCQREBOARD Filed Nov. A24, 1939 2 sheetssheet 2 I9 v i Bg J laznventot Patented Apr. l, 1941 UNITED STATESI PATENT OFFICE 2,231,203 t BOWLING ALLEY sconnnosnn Nicholas J. Abate, Baltimore, Md., or oi forty per cent to Albert Stark, Baltimore, Md.

Appuoation November 24, 1939, serial No. 305,996 s claims. .(ci. rar-ssi) highest score. The Scoreboards heretoiore'knownl have pin simulations .arranged thereon in the Order of the pin disposal at the inner end of the alley and electrical means, including switches and circuits, connect the pin spots with the pin simulations on the board so as to show definitely On the board which pins have been bowled over by Y the balls.

According ;to the present invention the scoreboard is provided with certain improved consti-notions which admit of the ordinary use of the scoreboard as above pointed out and which also.

' by adjustment, show upon the pin simulations upon the board certain predetermined count or number values. to the pins so that the" game of bowling may be varied either in the normal counting thereof to reach a high score, or which may be used for playing the game with the object of .obtaining the lowest score.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scoreboard oithis character with pin simulations adapted to be illuminated by the setting up of the pins on the pin spots at the end of the-alleyandl whichare adapted to b darkened upon the bowl-4 like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a bowling alley having a scoreboard constructed according to the present invention connected thereto.

Figure 2 is a detailed elilargedtop plan view of Y one of the pin spots of the bowling alley.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken through the bowling alley on the central axispf one of the pin spots, showing a pin thereon and showing a and switch ofthe present invention in lclosed position by-.the weight of the pin.

Figure i is a detailed edge view of one of the y pin spots, showing .the circuit-closing switch mounted therein.

lFigure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken through the switch and adjacent portions substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 .is e. aiagreinmano illustration of the scoreboard, the pin spots and the electrical connections therebetween.

The scoreboard Of-this invention is disclosed as installed or mounted upon a bowling alley provided with .the usual runway I0 and withpin spots or discs II disposed in the upper surface of the runway I0 and at the inner end of thevalley, as shown in Figure 1. The pin spots II are arranged lin the usual order of positioning the ten pins I2 as shown more clearly yat the bottom of Figure 6. l

The bowling alley is provided with the usual. ball return trough I3 and one .position in which the scoreboard may be disposedisover the outer ing over the respective pins, and wherein the pin' simulations are provided with numbers adapted to be illuminated upon adjustment oi the board to show certain desired count numbers i'or'the playing of the game in a different manner. j

The invention further aimsat the provision 'of a scoreboard of this character which is provided with relatively few vstructural features so comblned and Aarranged as to` obtain th'enecessary emciency and accuracy, a scoreboard which may be relativelyeasily applied to bowling alleys of standard construction already installed, and which may be conveniently located where desired for the display of th'e pin simulations andior access for adjustment of the-board.

With the `foregoing and other objects in view,

. the invention wm be more muy described herein.-

aiter, and will be more particularly pointed outl appendedheretg. f In the'drawings, wherein like symbols refer-.to

end oi. the trough Il where the` balls Il usually cometo rest and where they may be easily accessible to the players.

Each pin spot Il may be in the form'of adisc,

as shown in `detail inFigures 2 to 5, and each disc or, spot Il is provided with an electrical switch I5 which may be dovetailed or Otherwise suitably secured in lembedded relation within the disc and havinga spring contact IB normally urged upwardly from the surtacefof'the. disc for receiving the base of the pin I2 thereon and adapted to be 4 depressed by the .weight o! the pin to 'engage a iixed contact I1 ,in the casing of the switch to complete an electrical circuit. The contacts I6 and I1 are-connected'to wires Il and i9 respectively. The wires I8 and il may be grouped into a cable 20 as shown ln Figure 1` and carried from the inner end of thebowli'ng alley in any convenient manner, such as along the ceiling or wall as showmtol the forward end o i' the bowling alleyl the umu individui located. A

The wires I3 from the various switches ii are shown as connected to a common ground wire Il' which may be carried through the cable to tlie scoreboard body. This ground wire I3 may be lutilised for supplying current `to the circuits by means of a plug 22 ot the usual type adapted to be inserted building. The wires I3 are carried individually through the cable 2l, such as shown at I3', to the in'any convenient outlet socket in the` where the body or 2| of the scoreboard is f j thus used in the ordinary game of bowling where the players aim to make a high score.

When it is desired to play a low g of bowling, or wherein the player with the logest score wins, the switch handle 32 is swung down from its full lineposition shown in Figure 6 to the dotted line shown therein. The main switch .is thus adjusted' with its contact 3| bridging' the y I contacts 23 and l3l so that the central lamps 2l `are closedin circuitwith the end lamps 23 and thus the central portions of the simulations 34 scoreboard body 2l and are each independently connected to lamps 23 disposed in the'top and bottom portions of lamp housings 24 mounted in the body portion 2l oi the scoreboard., The lamp housings 24 are disposed, as shown in Figure 6, in thecorresponding positions to those of -the pin spots or discs Il of the bowling alley and the wires I3 and IB' exten individually-between the corresponding pin spots nd lamp housings.

' Each lamp housing 24 is pr ded with a central lamp 2B which is in branch' circuit connection with the lamps 23, and each lamp housing 24 is provided with partitions 23 separating the lamps 23 and 25 sothatI at times the central compartments of the lamp housings 24 may remain dark while the 'opposite end compartments may be illuminated by'their lamps 23.

'I'he lamps. 23 'of each lamp boxare connected to a common return wire 21 all of which lead to a fixed contact 23 `of a switch. The central lamps 25 of the lamp boxes 24 are connected by return wires 23 which lead to a secondI nxed contact 33 of the switch. A contact 3i mounted on the end of the pivoted arm is adapted to traverse the con- `tacts 28 and 30 so that at one setting, when engaging the contact 23, the device is adapted to inare illustr ted so as to show on the face of the scoreboard bers 3l which are played upon the central tions of the pin simulations 34.

As shown particularly in Figure 1, the pin simpore' ultations- 34 of the scoreboard are -provided with v count numbers which when illuminated give to the diiIerent pins the various predetermined values.. According to the present illustration the rear or upper row oi' pins each have a count 'value'of one, the third row each a. count value f of two, the second lrow each a count value of ".down the pins with the highest count number i .clude the end lamps\23 in circuit with pin spot switches I5, and when `the pivoted contact arm l'3| bridges the contacts 23 and 3l, as Shown at dotted lines' in Figure 8, both the end and the central lamps 23 and 25 are included in the cirgame desired.`

The casing 2 lof the scoreboard is provided with a hinged panel'or door 33 adapted to close the 'front oi the casing and which maybe of glass or the like suitably darkenedwith the exception -oi' the transparent -or translucent portions v34 of lpreferably the general shape or outline of'the pins 1250 gs tions 3 4 of the pins are so vdisposed .upon the panel :what when me latter is closed.' asisnown in Figure 1, the simulations will resister over the respective lamp boxes 24 and the light radiating from the lamp box will thus illuminatethe simulations 34 and show up the condition'. of the pins on' thealley. Each simulation 34 on thescoreboard panel 33 has a countnumber 3l at its central portion which registers with the central compartment of its lamp box 24 when the panel is closed. The -paritions 2l ot the lamp boxes 24 exclude the `light of the end lamps 23 from the central compartments when the scoreboard is adjusted tc counted'iroxntheto simulate the same. These simula- A y may swing the handle 32 to setth'e board for the three, and the. single. pin ofthe iront row may have avalue of four.

In' playing the game, the bowler aims to strike and after each playyby inspecting the scoreboard the remaining illuminated simulations are added togetherk according to their count values as indicated, the purpose being to add up .the least possible number of pins. In the ,"lowv game a spare, where all of the ,pins are bowled over with two balls, may be given a count of "five whereas when astrike is made. which is where all of the pins are bowled over with! the first ball,'a count of "ten" is assigned but these counts of filve" and ten are subtracted from the score oi the player and minus. counts may be indicated by an' encirclin -`game when played first for the usual highscore and then for a lowscore. The arrangement of the master switch and the central lamps 23 is such that the circuit ar rangement and the general structure oi' the scoreboard is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and" install, and a complicated vstructurel is avoided. Oi course any` suitable construction of master switch may be ,used and 'any desired circuit arrangement. may also be `had for merely throwing thescentral lamps into spot switches operateY in 'the same manner; thetacts I3 are released end the pin `spot switches are opened so that the lamps are extinguished operativeconnection with the end lamps when it is desired to. illuminate the predetermined lthe board. y

In both the ,hig'h and lowgames the pin -.count value numbers on the pin simulations of' pins when set -up depress the4 switch tongues or contacts Il and close the circuits so that the simulations are all illuminated. while the pins remain standing. When any or all oi' the pins are bowled over the respective spring tongue conat the corresponding pin simulationsy on the scoreboard and consequently the count of they remalning pins standing after a play may' be quickly. easily and accurately determined by ind. The scoreboard is' 75 specting the scoreboard. l

e various predetermined count numring or the like. 'Ihe player 'obtaining the lowest score, or the greatest minus What is claimed is:

1. In a bowling alley and in combination thereof, separate switches located in the respective pin spots at the inner end of the bowling alley and controlled by the pins thereof, a scoreboard having electrically operated indicating means for each pin, said indicating means having two indicating portions, one having a count number value significanceI and the other having pin identication significance, means controlled by said switches ior renderingthe respective second indicating means effective when the respective switch is operated and switch means fonadditionally renderingthe count number indicating portion effective when the first indicatingmeans is rendered effective. v

Y 2. In a bowling alley and in combination thereof, separate switches located in the respective pinspots at the inner end of the bowling alley and controlled by. the pins thereof, a scoreboard havingl electrically operated indicating means for each pin, said indicating means comprising a body portion having pin simulations arranged thereon in the order of the pins of a bowling alley, said pin simulations having two indicating portions,

Cil

illuminating the respective second indicating means when the respective switch is operated and switch meansvfor additionally illuminating the count number indicating portion when the first indicating means is rendered eiective.

3. In a bowling alley and in combination thereof. separate switches located in the respective pin spots at the inner end of the bowling alley and controlled by the pins thereof, a scoreboard having electrically operated indicating means for each pin; said indicating means, comprising a body portion having lamp boxes arranged therein in the order of the pins when standing on a bowling alley,ja panel closing said lamp boxes and provided with pin simulationsv registering i ond indicating means when the respective switch one having a. count number value significance and the other having pin identiiicatlon signin- -canoe, means controlled by said switches for is operated and switch means for additionally illuminating the count tnumber lamps'when the first indicating means is rendered effective.

NICHOLAS J. ABA'IE. 

